Yesterday we spent relaxing and shopping in Cairns so there was nothing worth mentioning. Today we set off to the Great Barrier Reef. We went with Reef Magic since they had something for everyone. Hendrik and I wanted to go diving, Hendrik’s dad wanted to snorkel, and Hendrik’s mom just wanted to relax. Reef Magic takes people to a pontoon, Marine World, where people can dive, snorkel, relax in lounge chairs, go on a semi-sub, or view the ocean from an underwater viewing gallery. So this was the best option for us.

The ride out to the reef was rough as usual so I took my travel-calm but many people did barf. I just stared out at the horizon the whole time. The ride to the reef is the worst thing about going to the reef from Cairns since it takes about 2 hours and it’s terrible.

Once there we went diving straight away. There is a platform that is underwater under Marine World to which stairs lead and this is for divers to enter the water. I really liked it since it was so smooth and allowed me to get situated with my BC and flippers while being able to stand in the water making the load on my back light. The reef was really nice below Marine World. We were with a group and had a guide and she was able to point out many interesting creatures like a trumpet fish which I had not seen yet while diving and three nemo families. Then we saw Wally, the resident Maori Wrasse which we each took a picture with. They had a really great photographer, much better than on the Kangaroo Explorer and I got a nice shot with Wally. He definitely does wonders for Reef Magic since everyone has to buy the picture because it’s so cool.

Me and Wally

After the dive Hendrik and I went on the semi-sub which was nice because of the live commentary but I would suggest them to wash their windows more often since lots of green stuff grew on it covering the view. We were still able to see sharks, a green turtle, and a unicorn fish. The buffet lunch was good and then we had one more dive. This time we were taken with the semi-sub to another part of the reef and dived there. All the comforts of getting into the water were reversed and it was very uncomfortable wearing the large and heavy oxygen tank on a little dingy.

Snorkling on the reef

This dive went well, and we saw two reef sharks, barracudas, and a feather star which I was able to touch. After the dive it was time to go back to Cairns which was a shame because we had no time to go snorkelling. I wouldn’t have minded spending another hour on Marine World. The ride home was smooth so it was much more pleasant and bearable. I really enjoyed Reef Magic and think they do a wonderful job.

Right away Cairns reminded me of Florida. An unnecessary amount of sprawl, two lanes for every road and brightly lit shops filled with tourist trinkets. Tourists in their khakis eat overpriced, not so great food, and fall into tourist traps. We were glad we had a five day scuba diving course ahead of us because we would not know what to do with ourselves in Cairns otherwise, but then again we wouldn’t be there for so long otherwise. I was super excited but also nervous about learning how to dive. We had to get up bright and early for the lessons so I decided to have a coffee in the morning, before going to the diving center. I thought the milk was sour because it tasted rancid, but I didn’t think too much of it since Hendrik had one too and he didn’t seem to think it was bad.

I soon forgot about the coffee as I began to sign my name over and over again on forms for the diving school. Then we were told all about the dangers of scuba and the possible injuries such as lung expansion, the bends, and suffocation. I felt quite woozy after that but decided I was just really nervous. Come lunchtime I ate my sandwich not out of hunger but because I thought I had to eat.

We started off in the pool, where we had to take a swimming test. I swam around the pool no problem but since I did not have goggles, the over chlorinated water irritated my eyes so much that I couldn’t see clearly or open them properly for the rest of the day which was really handy when I had to learn how all the equipment fits together and how to use it.

By the end of the lesson after we learned some skills in the shallow end we were finally allowed to go to the bottom of the four meter pool. Everyone disappeared under the water and I tried to do the same but my ear wouldn’t equalize no matter how hard I blew into my pinched nose. As I went deeper the pain increased and I had to go back up. I forced myself to back down and swam around a bit even though my ear was still in pain.

I was relieved when it was over and I could climb out of the water, and that’s when I felt all the weight. To add to an aluminum tank I had a weight belt around my waist too so I would sink. It was wonderful to take it off, but I was shaking, I couldn’t see, and my ear hurt. Luckily the instructor picked my equipment to dismantle as show so I didn’t have to bother putting anything away and just went to change.

I felt nauseous before I got into the van to go back to town, so I sat in the front. As we neared our destination I didn’t think I’d make it. Then the van came to a halt and the instructor began to tell us about tomorrow. I just got out closed the door and puked on the Cairn’s street. Right in front of the whole van so everyone in my class had a front row view.

I left ASAP and went straight to bed and spent the whole day sleeping as my body purged itself. I was embarrassed, miserable, and absolutely terrified of diving. I didn’t think I’d go diving again and tried to convince Hendrik to go without me.